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Connie was glad to be back in town. She loved being on campus, with all the gorgeous rose bushes by her building, and debate club, and Patricia right next door to play card games with whenever they wanted. Jayhawk University was fun, and challenging, and she really felt like she was doing something productive with her studies. Studying, learning new things, preparing for exams - it all gave Connie purpose.
It was the kind of attitude that her parents had fostered, beaming with pride at their gifted daughter. It was the same drive that had been instilled in her so long ago by Pearl when she was training with her.
"Give it your all, your passion and your energy, and you will succeed."
So maybe she was a little ambitious, but that drive got her honor roll, didn't it? And the praise certainly didn't hurt.
But honor roll or no, God, was it good to be back in Beach City. Back in her old bed, back with sweet Steven and his ukulele.
And, being around the gems, and Greg, was different than being around Doug and Priyanka Mahasewaren. It wasn't that Connie didn't miss her parents when she was away at college, she actually got pretty homesick for her dad's stuffy card ride playlists and her mother's measured advice. Doug and Priyanka weren't bad parents.This, she would insist to her therapist every single time she complained, as if prefacing her statements with praise of her parents would absolve her of the shame and ungratefulness she felt for even thinking badly of them.
But her therapist said that it was productive. And she *did* love productivity.
The point being, Connie did love and revere her parents a great deal. She reasoned this with herself, smoothing her insecurities about not being a good daughter . They could just be.. intense. Always asking her what her next plan was, scrutinizing her over little things, like her B- in her Quantitative Methods for Social Sciences course.
Privately, Connie would cry about the B-, feeling her skin itch with shame at the grade that would still sit her near the top of her class.
Steven never pressed her about her transcript. She wasn't even sure he knew what that was. Talking to the half gem hybrid, and his entire family, was sometimes just.. so much easier. The Gems valued Connie - and for more than just her academic goals. (And BOY did she have a lot of them. She could hardly tear herself from her spreadsheet of carefully curated list of study tips and class suggestions for the semester that hadn't even started yet.)
Garnet always asked how she was *feeling*, how things were going, and Amethyst made her laugh. Often, Pearl felt more maternal than her own mother.
And Steven had been raised by a man who didn't judge the way Connie's family did; he took a very understanding approach to parenting. Greg Universe was always there to cheer up his son with a song or joke, and Connie truly respected that about him. Somewhere, neatly tucked away in her brain, she supposed she was jealous that Steven had that.
Optimistic people were just more fun to be around.
Besides, Greg understood her sword fighting lessons and adventures with Steven, intergalactic diplomacy, all the stuff that would make her mother's head spin.
When Steven picked her up in the Dondai from the bus station, she immediately noticed how much taller he had gotten. It had only been a few months, hadn't it? And he was nearly the same height as her now, in fact, he might even have been a bit taller.
No, she didn't think so.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Greg watched Steven and Connie chatting on the beach, as he packed up the last of the music equipment into the back of his van. He enjoyed managing Sadie and Shep's music endeavors, but he was glad that everyone was back in Beach City at the same time for once. Thank God for summer break, huh?
"So how's Jayhawk?" He had asked causally, and Connie smiled at the fact that he remembered what college she was attending, and that they were close enough now that he considered her pseudo-family.
"Good." She said, smiling back. "Busy, but good."
Steven nudged her from his place on the sand. "You work too hard." He meant it lightheartedly, but she scowled slightly.
"You have to work hard, Steven, it's college." Connie was smiling as she said it, but there was a twinge of annoyance in her voice.
He laughed it off. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He looked at the bags under her eyes. "You know what I mean! You were just saying you're glad it's break." He put a hand on hers.
She smiled tightly at him.
Greg went back to his guitar, pretending not to notice the tension between them. "So... any big plans for this week, you two?" He grinned.
Steven turned to her, eyes sparkling. "We could hit the arcade at FunLand. Mr. Smiley just put in a new CrashElectric game!"
She nodded, stifling a small yawn. "Sounds great, Jam Bud." She said listlessly. "I've just got that intro to American Politics book that I wanted to get started-"
Steven scoffed. "Wait, what?"
"You know, for professor Derkinson." She noticed the way his lip twitched.
Steven raised an eyebrow. "I thought you didn't have professor DORKinson til next semester."
Connie giggled. "You said you wouldn't call him that."
"Hey, if I ever see the man, I won't say it to his face!" Steven laughed. But then he tilted his head in that curious and concerned way that made her feel angry and touched at the same time. "But you did say you didn't have him until fall semester, right?"
Connie crossed her arms, slumping against him. "It's difficult content, Steven, and the book is the basis for most of the curriculum. I want to get a head start-"
"Woah woah woah woah." Steven pulled away. "You said, your words, exactly, to me, were *I'm not going to deal with it until August.*" He opened his arms, looking around as if someone on the beach was going to argue with him. "Does it look like August?"
"I know, but Daniel said his course is pretty hard and I want to be prepared."
"Connie!-"
Greg frowned a little, clearing his throat in an attempt to keep them from bickering. "It's not such a bad thing to be prepared." He said, and Steven glared. "*But*, it's summer, kiddo. Go enjoy it."
She frowned. "I suppose."
"Why don't you kids go get some dinner?" Greg suggested, trying to defuse the situation before it got too serious.
Steven gave him a grateful look as the two stood.
Connie exhaled, not wanting to fight. "That sounds nice." She said, taking Steven's arm. "Let's get some pizza, and then how about you show me that new video game at FunLand?"
Steven smiled a little. "Okay."
The two walked down the beach hand in hand. Steven looked at her, sighing a little as she watched the seagulls flying low over the pier. The sun was setting, Connie liked that. All the oranges and reds and pinks were just beautiful.
"So, how have you been?" Connie asked, looking over at him briefly as they walked toward Fish Stew Pizza.
"Pretty good. Little Homeschool has been keeping me occupied," He squeezed her hand. "But it's so nice to see you."
Connie smiled. "It's nice to be back."
Steven swallowed. "You look tired, Con."
She blushed a little at the affection in his voice, and the way he said her nickname. "I guess it's just the travelling." She admitted, rubbing her eyes.
As they ordered their food at Fish Stew Pizza, Steven couldn't help but notice how distracted she seemed. She picked at her nails, looked at her phone. Sat her phone down. Picked her phone back up. Sat her phone down. Picked her phone back up.
"...Connie?"
"Yep! Yeah. Sorry." She looked at him, then, and saw him making that face again. "What?"
He pressed his lips together. "Are you okay?" Steven asked earnestly. "You-"
"I know. I'm sorry, I.." Connie shook her head. "Sorry. Just Patricia texting me."
He smiled a little, shoving down that creeping feeling of jealousy, and she smiled back. "God, I'm starving.. I think I'll get some mozzarella sticks, too." A smirk and a glance up. "If you'll share them with me, anyway."
Steven grinned easily. "Right. Yeah, of course."
"So how has it been, integrating the Gems you've reformed into Beach City?" Connie sipped her drink. "I have to admit, it was surprising to see Crazy Lace handing out balloons on the boardwalk."
Steven chuckled. "Amethyst has a pretty good system to pick jobs that tailor to Gems' strengths. It's been going good, for the most part."
"Sure." She checked her phone again.
"Connie."
"Sorry, she's just texting me about profess-"
Steven's face clouded considerably. "It's summer, Connie, in case you'd forgotten. You know? When you're not in school?" He hated how snappy he was sounding, but she seemed so preoccupied even while they were eating! And with her mentioning a book she needed for class, too? "You need to relax."
"You're right." She sighed. "I'm sorry."
"It's summer. You don't have to worry about any of that for, like, ever!" He waved his hands expressively.
No, YOU don't have to think about it. She wanted to say, but she just sighed and shook her head. "I know. I just want it to go well."
Steven gave her that look - that sweet, understanding look that almost made her feel bad for being angry with him. She had no reason to be, after all. "That's why you should relax." He smiled as he said it, and it did ease her a little. He was right. What was better than summer nights, pizza and video games, listening to him play sweet songs on his guitar and losing herself in the sound of the waves crashing on the beach?
"You okay?" Connie felt like he was asking that a lot this evening. Did she look like she wasn't having fun?, she thought with a pang of guilt.
Was she having fun?
The books and the logisitics and the thought of getting everything ready for her next semester at Jayhawk was all she could think about, even if she tried to push it out of her mind. She had to get herself on a payment plan for next semster's tuition, which meant an email to the bursar, and there was still that internship she was waiting to hear back from, and of course she would need to buy another whiteboard calender because her last one was ABYSBALLY smudged up --
"Connie." He almost sounded upset now. "Did you hear anything I just said?"
"What?"
His face went dark, eyes flashing pink for just a moment before he just scrubbed a hand across his face and groaned. "Seriously?"
"Sorry. It's jet lag." She mentally winced as she said it.
"You just seem kinda distracted." Connie just shrugged, and it was only then she realized she'd been checking her email on her phone compulsively.
Refresh. Refresh. Refresh.
Steven stared at her. "Did.. did you want me to take you home? You're probably tired."
Connie sighed. "Yeah. Please."
He couldn't keep the disappointment out of his voice. "Sure."
"Steven?" She said carefully as they approached her front door. His hands were balled into fists by his side, even if he smiled reassuringly. When she said his name, he deflated slightly.
"It feels like you aren't even excited to be here."
"WHAT?" Connie balked. She hadn't expected that. "Steven, that's not fair!"
"Isn't it?" Steven snapped now, nose scrunching up. "You- you've barely spoken to me all night, you're stuck in your phone, you kept bringing up school!"
"I'm just stressed! It's my first day back, Steven, I'm still in college mode! And that internship-"
"You said yourself that they won't look at your application until July. There's no reason for you to be so obsessed with all of this. It's a BREAK for a reason, you know.'
I am not obsessed!" His eyes widened slightly as she raised her voice. "Sorry."
"Look," Steven closed his eyes. "I don't want to fight." He leaned in, his voice softening. "I love you, okay? I know you're stressed. Get some sleep."
Connie exhaled. "Okay." She kissed him, an apology, and he accepted gratefully. "I'm sorry, too. I do want to go to the arcade.."
"Another day." He reassured, squeezing her shoulder. "It's okay." But it sounded like he was telling it to himself just as much as he was her. "Night."
She smiled back at him weakly and closed the door.
"...Sleep well."